Fuchsia excorticata
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| Fuchsia excorticata (Forst. & Forst. f.) L. f. |
Fuchsia excorticata, the New Zealand Fuchsia also known as Kotukutuku, is a New Zealand native tree belonging to the family Onagraceae. It is found commonly throughout New Zealand and as far south as the Auckland Islands. It grows from sea level up to about 1,000 m, particularly alongside creeks and rivers. Fuchsia trees are easily recognized in the bush by the characteristic appearance of their bark, which peels spontaneously hanging in red papery strips to show a pale trunk underneath. Closely related to the other Fuchsia, it is the largest member of the genus, growing to a height of 15 m. The introduction of Common Brushtail Possum to New Zealand has precipitated a serious decline in the this species where large concentrations of this invasive species are present as it appears to be one of their preferred food sources and they will browse individual trees to the point where they will die.
